Two Years Running: The Fifth Named New York’s Best Hotel

The surest signs of a place well loved aren’t headlines. At The Fifth Avenue Hotel, it’s a familiar face at the door, back again, as if no time had passed at all. That they told a friend, unprompted. That months later they still remember the scent of an entrée, the bartender who nailed their order, the treat waiting in their suite after dinner, small and unexpected and exactly right.

Two years ago, this was the world we set out to create. One that transports. A place that inspires us all to collect meaning in small, magical doses. This season, for the second consecutive year, readers told us it is working. The Fifth Avenue Hotel has been named the No. 1 hotel in New York City in its Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards once again.

Two Years at the Top

Every so often, private moments become something shared. Most guests will never know one another. They arrive on different days, celebrate different occasions, leave with different stories. Yet every year, thousands of them are asked the same question. Which places stayed with you?

For the second year in a row, their answer made The Fifth Avenue Hotel the No. 1 hotel in New York City in Travel + Leisure‘s 2026 World’s Best Awards. Readers also ranked us No. 81 in the world and No. 2 among city hotels in the continental United States, with a score of 98.08. More than 661,000 readers participated in this year’s survey, now in its 31st edition, making it one of the travel industry’s most closely watched honors.

None of it happens by accident. A moment like this is built from a million small miracles: the temperature of a room before a guest arrives, the timing of a dish, the exact hour the lobby flowers are changed. It takes a team who treat each detail as its own small ceremony. That devotion, multiplied across a thousand stays, is what brings our story to this moment.

What It Means to Stay Here

The Mansion itself was built in 1907 by McKim, Mead & White, one of the last private homes of its kind in this part of Manhattan, and it still carries the curiosities of that era. Martin Brudnizki layered its history with whimsical interiors, jewel tones underfoot, patterned marble beneath fingertips, velvet that holds the sound of the room, brass warmed by afternoon light. These are spaces built for the senses, meant to be filled, noticed, lingered in, spaces that invite you to slow down and find wonder in the details.

Café Carmellini brings chef Andrew Carmellini’s French-Italian cooking to the heart of the hotel, where seasonal ingredients and award-winning technique shape each dish. The Portrait Bar has become one of the harder reservations in the neighborhood, a room where the cocktail list takes you to far-flung destinations, one sip at a time. Every stay includes the attention of a dedicated personal Butler, whether arranging reservations, unpacking a suitcase, or simply remembering how you take your coffee. These are the details that shape a stay, and, twice now, have made us stand out among the best hotels in NYC.

Celebrating the Journey

Since opening in 2023, we have never thought of the awards as a finish line. To us, they are celebrations along the way, proof of a particular season, evidence that the story is being read by people beyond these walls. To win this one twice, in consecutive years, and from readers rather than critics, is a gift. We hold it with gratitude, for every guest who chose to return.

“This recognition belongs to our incredible team, whose passion, dedication, and commitment to excellence make the magic happen every single day. My deepest gratitude also goes to our guests, partners, and everyone who continues to believe in our extraordinary hotel. What a journey it has been—and what a remarkable story that continues to unfold.” – Managing Director & COO, Karla Aabo

Frequently Asked Questions

What did The Fifth Avenue Hotel win in 2026? The Fifth Avenue Hotel was named the No. 1 hotel in New York City in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, with a reader score of 98.08. It also ranked No. 81 among hotels worldwide and No. 2 among city hotels in the continental U.S. This marks our second consecutive year at the top of Travel + Leisure’s New York City ranking.

Where is The Fifth Avenue Hotel located? The Fifth Avenue Hotel is located at 1 West 28th Street in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, inside a mansion built in 1907 by McKim, Mead & White.

What makes The Fifth Avenue Hotel different from other NYC hotels? Among the luxury hotels in NYC, The Fifth Avenue Hotel stands apart for its 149 rooms and suites, designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio and dressed in velvet, brass, and whimsical details, a world built for curiosity. Award-winning cuisine is served at Café Carmellini, chef Andrew Carmellini’s love letter to French and Italian cooking. Drinks at The Portrait Bar, where cocktails transport you around the world. Personal butlers for every suite, among many other indulgences.

How many votes decided Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards? Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards, now in its 31st year, were decided by more than 661,000 reader votes across hotels, cities, islands, airlines, and more.

Has The Fifth Avenue Hotel won this award before? Yes. The Fifth Avenue Hotel was also named Travel + Leisure’s #1 hotel in New York City in 2025, making 2026 its second consecutive year at the top of the ranking.

Two years have passed, but the story feels new again with every stay. Perhaps it begins with a Portrait Bar cocktail before dinner at Café Carmellini, or a quiet morning in the Mansion suites, coffee arriving exactly as you like it. The details that earned this recognition are the same ones waiting at check-in: a butler who remembers, a room built for dreaming, with a chapter only you can write. Plan your stay at The Fifth Avenue Hotel today.